Physical activity moderates the deleterious relationship between cardiovascular disease, or its risk factors, and quality of life: Findings from two population-based cohort studies in Southern Brazil and South Australia
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Few studies have investigated the relationship between physical activity (PA) of low intensity and duration with quality of life (QoL) among individuals at risk or with cardiovascular disease (CVD). OBJECTIVES: To investigate whether PA of different intensity and duration moderates the relationship between CVD and its risk factors (obesity, hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidaemia) and QoL in adults. METHODS: Population-based cross-sectional studies using data from the EpiFloripa Cohort Study (Southern Brazil; n = 1,220, 38.8±12.0 years, 48.2% males) and the North West Adelaide Health Study (NWAHS, South Australia; n = 1,661, 43.7±11.1 years, 49.7% males). The physical and psychological domains of QoL were assessed using the WHOQOL-Bref (EpiFloripa) or the SF-36 (NWAHS) questionnaires. The diagnosis of CVD and its risk factors were self-reported. PA was self-reported and quantified by its intensity ["walking" or moderate/vigorous (MVPA)] and duration (none, 1-150, ≥150 min/week). Both studies were analysed separately, and results were adjusted for sociodemographic variables. RESULTS: Participants at risk or with CVD from both studies showed a lower QoL than 'healthy' individuals with a stronger relationship for the physical domain. PA duration showed a direct-trend relationship with QoL, but the associations were stronger for MVPA in both studies. However, when stratified by health status, the magnitude of the association between "walking" duration and a higher physical QoL was greater among those at risk or with CVD compared to 'healthy' individuals. Conversely, among Australians with CVD, MVPA was associated with a better physical QoL only when its duration was ≥150 min/week. All associations were stronger in the NWAHS than in the Brazilian study. CONCLUSIONS: "Walking" was more prevalent than MVPA and was consistently associated with a better physical QoL among those at risk or with CVD. These findings should be considered in the design of public health interventions designed to increase PA and improve QoL.
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BibTeX
@article{caceres2026physical,
title = {{Physical activity moderates the deleterious relationship between cardiovascular disease, or its risk factors, and quality of life: Findings from two population-based cohort studies in Southern Brazil and South Australia}},
author = {Viviane de Menezes Caceres and Nigel Stocks and Robert Adams and Dandara Gabriela Haag and Karen Glazer Peres and Marco Aurélio Peres and David Alejandro González-Chica},
journal = {PLoS ONE},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0198769},
url = {https://hal.science/hal-05791981v1},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Physical activity moderates the deleterious relationship between cardiovascular disease, or its risk factors, and quality of life: Findings from two population-based cohort studies in Southern Brazil and South Australia
AU - Viviane de Menezes Caceres
AU - Nigel Stocks
AU - Robert Adams
AU - Dandara Gabriela Haag
AU - Karen Glazer Peres
AU - Marco Aurélio Peres
AU - David Alejandro González-Chica
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/11
JO - PLoS ONE
DO - 10.1371/journal.pone.0198769
UR - https://hal.science/hal-05791981v1
AB - BACKGROUND: Few studies have investigated the relationship between physical activity (PA) of low intensity and duration with quality of life (QoL) among individuals at risk or with cardiovascular disease (CVD). OBJECTIVES: To investigate whether PA of different intensity and duration moderates the relationship between CVD and its risk factors (obesity, hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidaemia) and QoL in adults. METHODS: Population-based cross-sectional studies using data from the EpiFloripa Cohort Study (Southern Brazil; n = 1,220, 38.8±12.0 years, 48.2% males) and the North West Adelaide Health Study (NWAHS, South Australia; n = 1,661, 43.7±11.1 years, 49.7% males). The physical and psychological domains of QoL were assessed using the WHOQOL-Bref (EpiFloripa) or the SF-36 (NWAHS) questionnaires. The diagnosis of CVD and its risk factors were self-reported. PA was self-reported and quantified by its intensity ["walking" or moderate/vigorous (MVPA)] and duration (none, 1-150, ≥150 min/week). Both studies were analysed separately, and results were adjusted for sociodemographic variables. RESULTS: Participants at risk or with CVD from both studies showed a lower QoL than 'healthy' individuals with a stronger relationship for the physical domain. PA duration showed a direct-trend relationship with QoL, but the associations were stronger for MVPA in both studies. However, when stratified by health status, the magnitude of the association between "walking" duration and a higher physical QoL was greater among those at risk or with CVD compared to 'healthy' individuals. Conversely, among Australians with CVD, MVPA was associated with a better physical QoL only when its duration was ≥150 min/week. All associations were stronger in the NWAHS than in the Brazilian study. CONCLUSIONS: "Walking" was more prevalent than MVPA and was consistently associated with a better physical QoL among those at risk or with CVD. These findings should be considered in the design of public health interventions designed to increase PA and improve QoL.
SN - 1932-6203
SN - 1932-6203
ER -